Nuclear factor kappa-beta (NF-?B) is a transcription factor responsible for modulating the expression of many genes involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and metastasis. NF-?B interacts with I?B inhibitory proteins to regulate gene expression. This study investigated common variants within the genes coding for NF-?B and I?B, NFKB1 and NFKBIA, for involvement in sporadic breast cancer. Genotypes were determined in a population of breast cancer affected individuals and age-matched controls. Results do not support an involvement of the tested NFKB1 and NFKBIA polymorphisms in susceptibility to sporadic breast cancer, in the tested Caucasian population.